You may have gotten your wish.
Per AppleInsider, Apple delivered its long-awaited update of its MacBook Pro notebook on Monday, adding Intel’s latest Ivy Bridge processors, as well as dedicated Nvidia GeForce GT 650M graphics on the 15-inch model.
The updated MacBook Pro is different from the next-generation MacBook Pro Apple unveiled on Monday, as the legacy model maintains the design of its predecessor, as well as the optical disc drive. But the hardware has been updated with new processors and better performance.
The new 13-inch MacBook Pro has a 1,280 by 800 display with options for a 2.5 gigahertz dual-core i5 processor, or a 2.9 gigahertz dual-core i7. The low-end model has a 500 gigabyte hard drive and 4 gigabytes of RAM for US$1,199, while the high-end model sports 8 gigabyte of RAM and a 750 gigabyte hard drive for US$1,499.
The 15-inch MacBook Pro has a 1,440 by 900 pixel display, and both models feature Nvidia GeForce GT 650M graphics. The low-end model has 512 megabytes of graphics memory, 4 gigabytes of RAM, and a 500 gigabyte hard drive for $1,799. The high-end model has 1 gigabyte of graphics memory, 8 gigabytes of RAM, and a 750 gigabyte hard drive for US$2,199.
For those with deeper pockets and a craving for Retina Display goodness, the company unveiled an all-new ultra-thin professional MacBook Pro with a high-resolution Retina display.
Unveiled on Monday by marketing head Phil Schiller at Apple’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference, the new MacBook Pro is as thin as the MacBook Air, at just 0.71 inches thick, Apple said. It’s also the lightest Pro ever, weighing under 4 and a half pounds.
The new model’s 15.4-inch display is said to boasts a resolution of 2,880 by 1,880 pixels which equates to a dense 220 pixels per inch, the highest of any laptop in the world Apple says. Like the iPhone and iPad before it, the new Retina Display has pixels so small that Apple says your eyes cannot discern them from a reasonable distance.
The screen has also been improved with deeper blacks and a higher angle of viewing. Glare has also been reduced by 75 percent, Schiller said.
In preparation of the Retina Display-toting MacBook Pro’s debut, Apple has updated a number of OS X apps including Mail, Safari, iMovie and iPhoto. Professional software like Aperture and Final Cut Pro also received performance bumps to take advantage of the screen’s high resolution.
Third-party apps are also being updated for the Retina display, as Apple showed Diablo III running on the device, and said that Autodesk is working on a new version of AutoCAD.
The next-generation MacBook Pro runs exclusively on Intel’s new Ivy Bridge quad-core Core i7 processors and can be configure with up to 16 gigabytes of RAM. Batteries have also been improved as the unit boasts up to 7 hours of life under normal load along with a MacBook Air-like 30 days of standby time.
As far as connectivity, the new machine features the usual SDXC card reader, but adds two high-speed USB 3.0 ports, two Thunderbolt ports, and HDMI-out. Due to the lack of an optical drive, Apple had space to include ports on both sides of the device and relocated the SDXC card slot and one USB port to the right of the keyboard flanking the HDMI-out connector. New Thunderbolt accessories announced on Monday give FireWire 800 and Gigabit Ethernet capabilities to the new transfer technology.
On the audio/visual front, a new FaceTime HD 720p camera is joined by dual microphones, and are accompanied by what Schiller said are the best stereo speakers Apple has ever put into a notebook.
Rounding out the next-generation MacBook Pro’s feature set is a backlit keyboard, Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity, and 802.11n Wi-Fi.
The machine will also sport a new, smaller MagSafe charging port, which Apple has dubbed “MagSafe 2.”
Pricing for the next-generation 15.4-inch MacBook Pro starts at US$2,199 for a 2.3 gigahertz quad-core Core i7 processor and 8 gigabytes of RAM. The most-affordable Retina Display laptop features 256 gigabytes of flash storage and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M graphics card with 1GB of GDDR5 memory. The second-tier 2.6GHz model starts at US$2,799 which doubles the SSD size and grants buyers access to the fastest-available 2.7GHz Intel quad-core Core i7 chip.
Tech Specs:
– Height: 0.71 inch (1.8 cm)
– Width: 14.13 inches (35.89 cm)
– Depth: 9.73 inches (24.71 cm)
– Weight: 4.46 pounds (2.02 kg)
Display:
– Retina display: 15.4-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit display with IPS technology; 2880-by-1800 resolution at 220 pixels per inch with support for millions of colors
– Supported resolutions: 2880 by 1800 pixels (Retina); scaled resolutions: 1920 by 1200, 1680 by 1050, 1280 by 800, and 1024 by 640 pixels
Storage:
– All flash, 256GB in 2.3GHz model; 512GB or 768GB in 2.6GHz model.
Processor:
– 2.3GHz or 2.6GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 with 6MB shared L3 cache (configurable to 2.7GHz)
Memory:
– 8GB of 1600MHz DDR3L onboard memory (configurable to 16GB)
Graphics:
– Intel HD Graphics 4000 with discreet NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M with 1GB of GDDR5 memory and automatic graphics switching
Video Support and Camera:
– 720p FaceTime HD camera
– Dual display and video mirroring: Simultaneously supports full native resolution on the built-in display and up to 2560 by 1600 pixels on up to two external displays, at millions of colors
– Thunderbolt digital video output
– Native Mini DisplayPort output
– DVI output using Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter (sold separately)
– VGA output using Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter (sold separately)
– Dual-link DVI output using Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter (sold separately)
Connections and Expansion:
– MagSafe 2 power port
– Two Thunderbolt ports (up to 10 Gbps)
– Two USB 3 ports (up to 5 Gbps)
– HDMI port
– Headphone port
– SDXC card slot
– Apple Thunderbolt to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter (sold separately)
– Apple Thunderbolt to FireWire Adapter (sold separately, available July)
Wireless:
– 802.11n Wi-Fi wireless networking; IEEE 802.11a/b/g compatible
– Bluetooth 4.0 wireless technology
Audio:
– Stereo speakers
– Dual microphones
– Headphone port
– Support for Apple iPhone headset with remote and microphone
– Support for audio line out
Battery and Power:
– Up to 7 hours wireless web
– Up to 30 days standby time
– Built-in 95-watt-hour lithium-polymer battery
– 85W MagSafe 2 Power Adapter with cable management system; MagSafe 2 power port
Electrical and Operating Requirements
– Line voltage: 100V to 240V AC
– Frequency: 50Hz to 60Hz
– Operating temperature: 50° to 95° F (10° to 35° C)
– Storage temperature: –13° to 113° F (–24° to 45° C)
– Relative humidity: 0% to 90% noncondensing
– Maximum operating altitude: 10,000 feet
– Maximum storage altitude: 15,000 feet
– Maximum shipping altitude: 35,000 feet
In the Box:
– MacBook Pro with Retina display
– 85W MagSafe 2 Power Adapter, AC wall plug, and power cord
– Printed and electronic documentation
Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.
